You are a different kind of physics genius

From
Martin Lesser, Stockholm, Sweden

Richard Webb, considering the proposition “You are a physics genius”, writes: “our physics engine is programmed with the equations of classical mechanics” (10 December 2016, p 28). It is highly improbable that our brains use these equations to solve the problems of our motions in the physical world, and far more likely that neural networks or other mechanisms in the brain adapt to our sense experience and build suitable response patterns. That is why we need time to learn when adapting to situations such as riding a bicycle or moving in free fall in orbit. Such a mechanism would also allow our brains to achieve shorter response times than would be possible when using classical mechanics.